Pompano Rich

ABOUT

I started fishing locally in 1959. After chasing snook, tarpon and huge jack crevalles I found a species that I've been passionate about catching: "the Florida Pompano." The challenge of chasing the geography to locate these silver nuggets became a life dream.

The Pink Full Moon, also named the Harvest Moon, has always marked the signature month for pompano! The Algonquin tribes named moons after natural activities that occurred during its appearance. The pink connotation related to the showering colors of spring flowers, while the Harvest Moon related to the annual shad spawning in Michigan and other northeastern streams.

As seasonably warm temps and constant southerly winds create dynamic changes. After weeks of inhabiting the Stuart/Vero estuary pompano, ladyfish and bonefish are staging at both Local inlets. The inlet exits are promising as surf results increase! Boat anglers have been limiting out all week but that changed upon the increase of heavy southerly winds. Whether the fish would go north or south was the question. The fish chose both directions.

Every year is unique! I’ve been at this since ’58 and I’ve never witnessed an January surf shutdown like this… From Boynton Inlet through Ft. Pierce Inlet, the beach bite is likened to a winter doldrum. I never enjoy not writing an invigorating report, but so it goes.

For weeks the pomps have been stacked up in the river from Round Island to St. Lucie Inlet. We’re talking schools and big fish. I firmly believe this years El Nino has driven Northern pompano into our region stronger than past seasons…

Full moon and super tide erased five miles of coastline this morning from Jupiter Inlet to Loggerhead Park! Another Beach Renovation on the horizon.. To restore a beach this long requires a 30 million dollar budget. Not good for taxpayers. When the dozers show up on good flea beaches one has to cringe! Covering them with 10 ft. of dirty sand concludes their natural lives. Literally killing 10,000 eggs per female flea.

South Florida surf fishing has been spotty but is steadily improving. Bluefish and jack crevalle bit steady at most beaches in the early AM and late afternoon. Top water splash style lures and chunking has been working to catch the muscle heads with ease! Totally visual and viably consistent. The light early west winds portray the evidence at dim light.

Randy, Pier Master of Juno Beach Pier, reports exciting Fall crossover migrations. This includes pulses of bluefish and finger mullet, and also a rare showing but welcome appearance of slot size redfish! We’re also seeing resident 6″ to 10″ pompano appear like ghosts in the lightly silty aqua water, and early and late appearances of jacks and ladyfish as large as 6 lbs. Croakers and small sand perch are also showing up in solid numbers.